He responded: ‘By Allah, I have never heard of these narrations until now.’

When he finished his story and received his donations, he sat down waiting for the rest. Yahya ibn Ma’een beckoned for him to approach.

He came thinking that he would receive some money, Yahya said to him: ‘Who narrated this Hadeeth to you?’

He responded: ‘Ahmad ibn Hanbal and Yahya ibn Ma’een.’

Yahya ibn Ma’een said: ‘I am Yahya ibn Ma’een and this is Ahmad ibn Hanbal and we have never heard of this at all in the Ahadeeth of the the Messenger of Allaah – صلى الله عليه وسلم .

The man said: ‘I’ve been hearing that Yahya ibn Ma’een is a fool, and I haven’t verified this until now. As if there are no other Ahmad ibn Hanbals and Yahya ibn Ma’eens except for the both of you. Indeed I have written Ahadeeth on the authority of seventeen Ahmad ibn Hanbals and Yahya ibn Ma’eens.’